Chef, restaurant owner follows family tradition

Contributed photo Mike Gulkoparan, owner/chef at the new Sweet Home Family Restaurant, is busy at the grill. Contributed photo by Mickey Zezzo

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By Mickey Zezzo, Contributed Writer 11:32 AM Wednesday, July 28, 2010

HUBER HEIGHTS — Father’s Day had a special meaning this year for Moharrum “Mike” Gulkoparan.

The 39-year-old Turkish immigrant, who was only 13 when he lost his father, Veli Gulkoparan, to cancer at the age of 55, has fulfilled a wish his father had many years ago.

He wanted his then teenage son to one day follow family tradition and become a restaurant owner.

Gulkoparan, who came to the United States in 2001, is the owner and operator of Sweet Home Family Restaurant, one of Huber Heights’ newest eateries, located at 4480 Powell Road in Huber Heights’ Powell Plaza.

“I know he would be proud of me,” said Gulkoparan. “And I can remember when he and my mother made sure me and my brothers and sisters finished all our chores before we could go out to play — and many times helping with the cooking was one of them.

“My father also had a small farm where he grew his own vegetables for his restaurant.”

He comes from a family of six children, and his  80-year-old mother still lives in the small Turkish village of Izmir.

Gulkoparan is well aware that he’s bucking the crush of the fast food industry.

“I feel that a lot of people, mostly senior citizens, appreciate old-fashioned home cooking,” said Gulkoparan. “And low cost meals are important to older folks living on social security.”

Thus far, the most popular item on his menu is broasted chicken, and he said, “Our breakfast specials have also been well received.”

Breakfast goes for $5.59 and includes two eggs, home fries and a choice of ham or sausage. And that popular broasted chicken comes in seven varieties — but nothing higher than $7.95. For the kids, there are silver dollar pancakes.

The menu also includes some Turkish specialities, Italian dinners and a wide variety of salad plates.

He has 10 employees, including six waitresses, and does most of his own cooking.

Before taking on his own enterprise, Gulkoparan worked as head cook for a restaurant on North Main Street in Dayton for three years.

His restaurant was closed for most of July for redecorating and something that Gulkoparan has been looking forward to: a trip back home to Turkey to visit his wife, Ferda, and the rest of his family.

Family members and friends provided most of the financial backing for the restaurant.

Taking out a photo of his wife, the owner/chef said, “I miss her very much and hope to bring her to America soon. It has been three years since I visited my family, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Contact this writer at  (937) 236-6032.

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